Wet Cham at night?

[JETNC]

Hi all,

My question is about my Cham getting wet at night. Could there be adverse affects?

9mos old Panther male
Daily Poop is good, white/brown moist
Daytime:
85f at bask, 50-60% humidity
75f upper, same humidity
72-73f Middle, same humidity
70-72f Lower, same humidity
Arcadia uvb- 2-3UVI (Solarmeter)
Arcadia jungle Dawn
Nighttime:
64-66f, 75-85%
7am-7pm light schedule
Mist at 0730 45 sec
Mist at midnight 10sec ( sometimes)
Fog at midnight until 0600
Dragonstrand Hybrid enclosure (3 weeks in this enclosure)
5 live plants (Pothos, hibiscus, spider)
Room ambient 70-73f at 45-55%

This is my question. I’d like to mist at night but invariably he parks his butt in front of the mist nozzle. And I’m concerned with him getting wet at night.

I have 2 nozzles, mounted at the front above the door pointing back and down. There is a horizontal branch up front about 3” from the door and he likes to sleep there, on the far right of the branch, directly in line with the nozzle. There is NO cover here, it’s wide open. He got blasted the first night, slept under the Pothos the next night, and was back again the third night. Since then he goes between the two spots.

When he sleeps in the Pothos up front, he’s about a foot lower. Here he wouldn’t get wet because of the leaves.

If I saw him on the branch I started to turn off the mister at night, but let it run in the morning. In the morning he just sits there and gets wet, after a while he’s looking for food, so I feed him. Then he goes to bask.

Today I figured I would just move that nozzle. But instead of moving it, I disconnected the right side nozzle and made a “rain ring” with tees, and then a mist nozzle pointing down. Think of a circle, halfway across there is an arch, mist nozzle at the top of arch. Tested it, works great! Makes a 6-8” circle of rain come down. I put it in the middle of the top mesh. Awa y from either spot he would normally sleep in.

Tonight he parked his butt directly under that spot, hidden in the Pothos with just his head sticking out. It took me 20 minutes to find him…lol. He’s never slept there before!

Is it me or does he want to get wet at night?
He must like it in the morning, but I’m concerned with being wet all night.

What do you all think?

 

[MissSkittles]

I am unable to fog at night, so run the misters for 15 seconds at night for a subtle increase in humidity. It hasn’t seemed to bother or adversely affect any of my chameleons.

 

[JETNC]

I am unable to fog at night, so run the misters for 15 seconds at night for a subtle increase in humidity. It hasn’t seemed to bother or adversely affect any of my chameleons.

I noticed that my temp drops when I fog. It’s usually around 70f when it starts, by 6am it’s around 64 or 65f. I use Switchbot sensors that track temp/humidity, they’re less than $15 and I can use them in routines with my fan and heat lamp to control the temp/humidity.

 

[MissSkittles]

I noticed that my temp drops when I fog. It’s usually around 70f when it starts, by 6am it’s around 64 or 65f. I use Switchbot sensors that track temp/humidity, they’re less than $15 and I can use them in routines with my fan and heat lamp to control the temp/humidity.

You want it to be cool (below 68F) when you fog. In the wild, the nights are cool and humid.

 

[JETNC]

Does anyone else have any feedback on a chameleon going through the night with wet skin?

I understand the relationship between RI disease temp/humidity as well as constant moisture causing mold and mildew in an enclosure, hence the daytime drying period. I also understand that in the wild it must rain at night sometimes. But, would a constant “rainy” night that results in a wet Cham be a beneficial environment?

 

[Carlton]

IMHO wet skin wouldn't be contributing to RI diseases. Bacteria or molds they inhale from stagnant surroundings is more responsible. Suspect you're overthinking it. Chams are a little more durable than that. Think about it, chams in the wild probably do spend many nights with wet skin because even if it isn't actively raining, the foliage they live in is wet with dew or condensed fog at night much of the time.

 

[JETNC]

I’m a new Cham owner, so I’m definitely overthinking everything. My Cham is in my office, so we’re in close proximity daily. I offer a drip a few times a week just to check but he usually ignores it, his poop is normal and daily, so I am confident he’s hydrated. I just don’t have the experience you all have and I appreciate the feedback!

 

[ehdee6]

If it helps... Chameleons don't have skin that absorbs water, like we do (imagine sitting in water too long and your skin goes all wrinkly). Their skin is a natural repellent, and won't absorb an extreme amount of moisture.

For example imagine a shake that lives in wetlands, like a boa... Imagine how messed up a boa's skin would be if it absorbed water, it would be a crazy wrinkled mess!

This is an excellent article about it.

https://www.chameleons.info/l/chameleon-skin-is-not-permeable-for-water/

 

[JETNC]

Interesting article, it appears my concern is valid.

This is my take away from the article

Cham skin is hydrophobic

It makes no sense to soak chameleons in water, and it makes also no sense to spray them with water.

Do not spray on chameleons, especially when they are undergoing the process of shedding!

 

[JETNC]

Interesting article, it appears my concern is valid.

This is my take away from the article

Cham skin is hydrophobic

It makes no sense to soak chameleons in water, and it makes also no sense to spray them with water.

Do not spray on chameleons, especially when they are undergoing the process of shedding!

Forgot to add, taking it in context to the discussion, it’s confusing. I think we can all agree that they get wet in the wild and handle it, get wet in captivity and handle it, but are subject to fungal infections in either scenario. At the same time their lifespan is significantly shorter than in captivity. So anything we do has an affect on their lifespan.

To reduce the possibility of fungal infections, being wet should be controlled to reduce the possibility of an infection. Not necessarily an RI, but skin issues.